To all newbies, just stick with it
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RV posted 1 year ago.
Great job. I can relate very much to the swim progress that you have made. I did the side stroke my first couple years of Tri's! Geo has certainly been a great source of help!
That is a nice time for your first HIM.
Which IM are you doing next year?
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
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859 days
guncollector posted 1 year ago.
RV;79327 wrote:
Great job. I can relate very much to the swim progress that you have made. I did the side stroke my first couple years of Tri's! Geo has certainly been a great source of help!
That is a nice time for your first HIM.Which IM are you doing next year?
Haven't quite figured that out yet. But, this time of year is best for my A-race efforts. So, IM Wisconsin seems to be about the right time of year. But, I know nothing about registering for IM's. I hear they sell out super fast. I will have to have a plan-B and possible C, I guess.
Any and all advice appreciated!
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UFTriGator posted 1 year ago.
That's pretty awesome to learn how to swim that fast in just 14 months! Nice job, man!
______________________________________________
-Matt
Not fast enough.
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kylie posted 1 year ago.
Yeah I think all the North American NASports Ironman races are already sold out for 2008 (except Florida since registration won't open until the day after the event). IM Louisville (put on by WTC, who does Kona) is still open I believe, but not a ton of spots left. There are also some *great* non-mdot brand iron-distance races to look at though, and they don't sell out as fast.
Oh and awesome work on the swim :)
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Riverbrady posted 1 year ago.
Congrats on the progress : ) Nice going!
"Care more than others think is wise, risk more than others think is safe, dream more than others think is practical, expect more than others think is possible."
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Iron Dan posted 1 year ago.
I was in the same boat you were in last year. Hard work and time sure make a world of difference. Congratulations on finishing you HIM. Great times across the board.
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deepbluex posted 1 year ago.
Two years ago, I couldn't swim one lap of a 25 meter pool without having to pause and catch my breath. I totally relate to that sense of accomplishment. My swim gives me my best rank of all 3 events now, biking being a close second. Running has now become my worst and weakest discipline but I am okay with that because if I stop running, I won't just drown and die.
3354
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RV posted 1 year ago.
guncollector;79343 wrote:
Haven't quite figured that out yet. But, this time of year is best for my A-race efforts. So, IM Wisconsin seems to be about the right time of year. But, I know nothing about registering for IM's. I hear they sell out super fast. I will have to have a plan-B and possible C, I guess.Any and all advice appreciated!
Ya, IMWI 2008 sold out in 23 minutes on-line this year. Pretty much need to register for an IM a year in advance - being at the venue is the best chance for getting in. Although community slots are available for longer - those are $1,000 - half goes to the sponsored charity rest is the IM fee. This is pretty much just for the North American IM events. May be easier to get in to an off-shore IM. Think it was mentioned elsewhere, but some coaching packages/camps will include an entry slot for an IM event.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
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bouli posted 1 year ago.
guncollector;79323 wrote:
I started posting here as a Newb back in summer of '06, with lots of swimming questions. I couldn't swim 50m on a $100 bet back then.Anyway, I took all the advice from here (a special thanks out to geochuck!) and just STUCK WITH IT--swimming 2-3x's/wk--for 14 months. I did the intervals. I practiced the high elbows. I trained on the Vasa. I did the long swims. I practiced OWS. I practiced sighting. I practiced the gliding. You name it, I practiced it.
So, this weekend in my first Half-Iron (Big Kahuna, Santa Cruz), I swam a PR for 1.2-miles in 35:47. I might add the water was rather chilly at 51F. I know this is only a MOP performance, but hey, I couldn't swim a frontcrawl to save my life 1 year ago.
So, I wanted to come back here and post this for any/all newbies who don't think they can do it. Because I still remember what it was like to want to want to conquer that first mile straight, or that first OWS, etc.
Bottom line, I promise you, if you put in the quality time--you will get the result. Keep the faith.
PS. Finished Big Kahuna in MOP, at 5:40 (S 35:47, B 2:52, R 2:03), with a smile! Looking forward to an IM in '08!
I haven't looked at trifuel in a while, but i thought i'd throw an eye on it tonight and saw this. This is exactly what i needed to hear. I've been struggling so badly with this part all summer. I made lots of progress, plateaued and then i did my tri in august. Totally fudged the swim and reverted back to my old reliable breaststroke on the day. I've actually lost a lot of faith in myself and swimming as a result and started contemplating just doing duathlons next year.
My last tri is next week, it'll probably be a mash of breast stroke and front crawl, however, I am determined to make swimming like cycling and running is to me: second nature. I am going to swim, swim, swim all winter. All of the drills, all of the repeats, everything you said above, I've come along a fair bit, but there's still a hell of a lot to do, but I will do it!
Guncollector, you've inspired me!
"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."
-- T.S. Eliot
477
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1343 days
geochuck posted 1 year ago.
I saw this post on a swimming site I thought it may interest you - The person wrote this.
[SIZE=4]After running a swim clinic for a group of triathletes, I must say that some of them were really interested in the stroke mechanics. One fella didn't like "slowing" down to perfect it so he left.
I spoke with them all and even having a true swimmer onboard for awhile (me) and giving them lots of help, they all still do the same things: swim fast and resort back to their old habits. I think a lot of it is because the other triathlete disciplines require speed and they just can't get out of that mode for the swimming portion. To them, fast=winning, even though swimming "fast" without technique won't get them on the beach any faster.
It's a tough thing to try to slow down people used to going fast all the time.[/SIZE]
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RV posted 1 year ago.
Geo - yup that is true, for me at least, over the summer I've been trying to slow my stroke rate down a bit to get a little more glide and more of a FQS.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
477
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geochuck posted 1 year ago.
RV - my reply to that post was as follows.
It is not that they swim fast, they are in a hurry to get no where.
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RV posted 1 year ago.
geochuck;79409 wrote:
RV - my reply to that post was as follows.It is not that they swim fast, they are in a hurry to get no where.
Ya, I had a high stroke rate and a really slow speed. It was counter-intutive that by "swimming" slower - you go faster. Until I finally accepted that swimming slower really means with better form and efficiency.
I am about to get back heavy into drills to try and improve - plenty of room for improvement for me!
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
477
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1343 days
geochuck posted 1 year ago.
In May I am going to be in Moline Illinois to the plant that builds my swim-in-place-pool. The plant said I can invite anyone that I want to come and have a swim. When there I am going to give some free swim clinics. Let me know if you are interested. I will be there for 2 days.
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guncollector posted 1 year ago.
bouli;79369 wrote:
I haven't looked at trifuel in a while, but i thought i'd throw an eye on it tonight and saw this. This is exactly what i needed to hear. I've been struggling so badly with this part all summer. I made lots of progress, plateaued and then i did my tri in august. Totally fudged the swim and reverted back to my old reliable breaststroke on the day. I've actually lost a lot of faith in myself and swimming as a result and started contemplating just doing duathlons next year.My last tri is next week, it'll probably be a mash of breast stroke and front crawl, however, I am determined to make swimming like cycling and running is to me: second nature. I am going to swim, swim, swim all winter. All of the drills, all of the repeats, everything you said above, I've come along a fair bit, but there's still a hell of a lot to do, but I will do it!
Guncollector, you've inspired me!
That's awesome! You were my target audience! Good luck!
18
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859 days
guncollector posted 1 year ago.
geochuck;79401 wrote:
I saw this post on a swimming site I thought it may interest you - The person wrote this.[SIZE=4]After running a swim clinic for a group of triathletes, I must say that some of them were really interested in the stroke mechanics. One fella didn't like "slowing" down to perfect it so he left.
I spoke with them all and even having a true swimmer onboard for awhile (me) and giving them lots of help, they all still do the same things: swim fast and resort back to their old habits. I think a lot of it is because the other triathlete disciplines require speed and they just can't get out of that mode for the swimming portion. To them, fast=winning, even though swimming "fast" without technique won't get them on the beach any faster.
It's a tough thing to try to slow down people used to going fast all the time.[/SIZE]
Everyone,
Listen to George!
While I am not a shining example of long-strokes-and-gliding (yet), I do work towards this goal! I was back in the pool already this week, and my coach is already working on me to further reduce my stroke-rate.
My coach refers long strokes and gliding as Smooth swimming. Says Smooth = fast. Fast and truncated strokes = slow.
For anyone interested, the mantra I used during my PR swim was "Smooth is Fast...Stay Aerobic". I just kept repeating this to myself over and over, and towards the 36th minute, I touched sand!
3354
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1412 days
RV posted 1 year ago.
guncollector;79532 wrote:
"Smooth is Fast...Stay Aerobic".
That is pretty much the Rich Strauss mantra "Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast".
The engineer in me hates it as it breaks down to "Slow is Fast" - but when I take it as a slow smooth stokes equals a faster swim time then it is all good!
I am back to starting drills now myself. Gonna even learn how to breath on the right this fall/winter. Should go a long way to balance out my stroke.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
477
Member
1343 days
geochuck posted 1 year ago.
Most people I help get in the pool. They start swimming, they slap the water when the hand enters, don't slap slide it in easily. TI says thrust it in to the mail slot. I prefer slip it in easily and reach forward. Take it to the catch without rushing.
When you get to the catch apply the pressure (I say max it) to the finish then roll it out get the elbows high and insert it in to the water easy then repeat, repeat, repeat.
3354
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1412 days
RV posted 1 year ago.
geochuck;79557 wrote:
Most people I help get in the pool. They start swimming, they slap the water when the hand enters, don't slap slide it in easily. TI says thrust it in to the mail slot. I prefer slip it in easily and reach forward. Take it to the catch without rushing.When you get to the catch apply the pressure (I say max it) to the finish then roll it out get the elbows high and insert it in to the water easy then repeat, repeat, repeat.
I've been told to reach for the end of the pool when slipping the hand into the water. Now does that mean to really stretch the arm forward? I think I also have my elbow slightly bent - should I have it locked when reaching forward? Thanks!
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
477
Member
1343 days
geochuck posted 1 year ago.
This is a drill breathing both sides, but watch the last portion of this video it shows the arm action very well. http://www.goswim.tv/drill_pop.php?id=968_0_20_0_M
3354
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1412 days
RV posted 1 year ago.
Thanks Geo!
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
I started posting here as a Newb back in summer of '06, with lots of swimming questions. I couldn't swim 50m on a $100 bet back then.
Anyway, I took all the advice from here (a special thanks out to geochuck!) and just STUCK WITH IT--swimming 2-3x's/wk--for 14 months. I did the intervals. I practiced the high elbows. I trained on the Vasa. I did the long swims. I practiced OWS. I practiced sighting. I practiced the gliding. You name it, I practiced it.
So, this weekend in my first Half-Iron (Big Kahuna, Santa Cruz), I swam a PR for 1.2-miles in 35:47. I might add the water was rather chilly at 51F. I know this is only a MOP performance, but hey, I couldn't swim a frontcrawl to save my life 1 year ago.
So, I wanted to come back here and post this for any/all newbies who don't think they can do it. Because I still remember what it was like to want to want to conquer that first mile straight, or that first OWS, etc.
Bottom line, I promise you, if you put in the quality time--you will get the result. Keep the faith.
PS. Finished Big Kahuna in MOP, at 5:40 (S 35:47, B 2:52, R 2:03), with a smile! Looking forward to an IM in '08!